The bathroom serves as a perfect place for mold and mildew to grow in warm and humid conditions. No matter how much you’ve cleaned your shower, at some point, you will notice some mold growing (especially during the colder months). And once it has started growing, it won’t take much time before spreading into every crevice and crack. So if you see the same thing happening in your bathroom, you can deal with it, no need to panic.
There are many easy ways to remove black mold from your shower and bathroom area. Here’s a full guide on how to remove mold from your bathroom, including safety precautions to take.
Here are easy ways to remove mold and mildew in the shower area:
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Clean Up With Baking Soda
Baking soda can take care of anything. This non-toxic product is easily available in every home and is super easy to use. Also, it’s safe for your kids and pets. Besides killing the mold, baking soda will also help absorb moisture and reduce mold. The drying properties in it will also prevent mold from growing in the future.
- Combine half a tablespoon of baking soda with water and fill the mixture in a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on the molded areas and wipe it down with a sponge or non-scratching pad.
- Rinse the whole surface with water to get rid of any residual.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar is another easily available product that works well for moldy surfaces. You can also combine baking soda and vinegar to kill molds.
- Pour distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle and do not mix water.
- Spray the vinegar on the surfaces with mold and let it sit for an hour.
- After one hour, rinse the area with clean water and let it dry.
- Check the material before using vinegar. For example, if you have marble, granite, slate, or stone tiles in the bathroom, avoid using vinegar.
Store-Bought Cleaner Borax
Borax is toxic if swallowed, but it does not emit chemicals or harmful fumes like other products. It is easily available at any grocery store, and you can get it for a few dollars.
- If you’re taking one gallon of water, combine 1 cup of borax and spray the mixture on the wall.
- Use a scrubbing brush to loosen the mold from the surface.
- After the mold comes off, wipe up any excess mold with a rag and let it dry naturally.
- Leave the excess borax on the wall to prevent the future mold from growing.
Bleach
Bleach is another effective option to clean bathroom molds but only use it if your bathroom ventilates properly. While working with bleach, make sure you open the windows of your bathroom or turn on the exhaust fan.
- Mix one part of bleach into two parts of water and pour it into a spray bottle.
- Now spray the mixture on non-porous surfaces like sinks, toilets, tubs, and showers.
- Take a brush and scrub off the mold. Now rinse the area with clean water.
- Make sure you never use bleach on the ceilings or walls of the bathroom.
How To Remove Mold From Shower Caulk?
Mold on shower caulk could be more difficult to remove sometimes; hence the procedure is quite different. To remove mold from the caulk, do the following steps :
- Take some baking soda in a bowl and add small amounts of bleach until you get a paste. Make extra, so you don’t run out of the paste while working.
- Take a paintbrush and use it to apply the mixture to the mold.
- After you’ve applied the paste, use plastic wrap to cover it. This might be quite difficult depending on the location but try your best.
- Allow the mixture to sit on the surface for around 2 hours.
- Now remove the wrap and clean the surface. If the mold is gone, your work is complete. If not, start all over again.
How To Remove Mold From The Shower Curtain?
Shower curtains may develop mold because they often stay damp for long periods. Luckily, you can get rid of it easily :
- Take the shower curtain off the hanger.
- Put it in your washing machine with two or three bath towels. These towels act like scrubbing sponges.
- Add half a cup of baking soda to your normal detergent and start the washing cycle.
- During the rinse cycle, add ½ cup vinegar.
- Hang the curtain to dry.
If you see mold on the shower curtain, try it again. It might take a few attempts because the curtain is made of plastic, and plastic blocks water. So there’s a possibility that the mixture couldn’t reach all of the curtains. To avoid mold build-up, close your shower curtain after every use, so it dries properly.
Safety Precautions To Take While Cleaning
While using bleach, make sure you have a ventilated space. Always wear a respirator mask and gloves while working. Also, wear old clothes because splashes of bleach can severely fade your clothes.
The Bottom Line
The best way to get rid of mold in the bathroom is to prevent it from growing. You can do this by avoiding any excess moisture. For this, you can run the exhaust fan for at least 20 minutes after the shower. Remove the damp towels and keep the floor dry. You can also disinfect your bathroom once a week to combat the situation.
